Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-03-26
MY SPEECH.

After two seasons of hard toll. and
two winters spent in the cold seciusion
Of those Colorado Mountains, we gave
up our silver mine and abandoned the
claim. was quite ready to return. Two
years away from razor, two years Of
bacon, beans, syrup and canned corn;
two years of struggle with sour dough:
two years spent at an altitude where it
takes six hours boiling to cook potatoes
lastoning phenomenon to every tender
FOOT cured my mining fever for evermore.
joined that great procession which
the railroads never advertise, the dis
gusted ones returning East or West from
those silver lodes with twisted back bones
and empty pockets.
Home again | learned, to my amaze
ment, that Cousin Brooks, one of the
most stupid boys that ever gaped over
his books, had Just become Governor of
the Statel
When went West to find an opening
for my money, Brooks was scdate, hard
working lawyer. never supposed he
would earn his salt.
After becoming tolerably well ac-
quainted with mother again, and the
boys, and making brief vain quest for
employment, / took run up to the capi-
tol one day to sec Brooks. He greeted
me cordially. He always did like me. l
suppose because I used to help him out
in his lessons, between thrashings, al
though upon leaving school bore a re-
morseful feeling that had been unmer-
ciful to poor Brooks.
He was in his official apartment at the
state room, lofty room with frescoed
ceiling, huge plate windows, elaborate
furniture, library, and elegant writing
desks. He was sequcstered by ante
rooms and guarded by ushers, but l went
straight through to his presence without
check, while the clerks stared in sur
prise. This was because l SO resemaeSd
Brooks that came upon them like an,
partition, for he and / were of similar
form behind the same ancestral nose.
Greeting over:
"And how are the mines, Chug2"
"They are still there"
"You have made your fortune West, /
hopel"
'No. The West did pretty we'll.
didn't. The West kept all took there. {"
He looked at me doubtfully. Brooks
never quite understood my way of talk
ing. Yet l speak clear classic English,
always.
"You haven't lost every cent, Chug2"
"Oh no. If can sell my mine for a
hundred thousand am all right"
SIS is good for anything?"
"Not that know of"
+ 'Hum" Brooks was a fine looking
fellow, large, portly, bcnignant. A kind
hearted man, somewhat changed since l
saw him last He had aged greatly, far
more than /, notwithstanding all the
Yicissitudes and bacon l had undergone.
He seemed more serious, more fatherly,
and appeared tired. He looked at me
with something of the old appeal in his
face.
"Stay here and help me, Chug. had
to discharge my secretary yesterday. He
was schcmcr, more anxious to gain out
side friends than to do his duty by me-
| want somebody who is reliable. 1t pays
two thousand a year. Probably / can
put some perquisites in your way Also"
ND d hlnuuNco W DlOOho Il lOuoCnNC0.
He led me over to a handsome work
desk charged with innumerahle pigeon
noles, rolls of red tape, seal stamp, wax,
and other vital elements of government.
A pile of letters and documents already
burdened the slope.
| sat down before a half rcam of
selected mail, my brief instructions being
F. 10 h.,f
make a friend of every writer" This
mountainous task strained my early sab
bath school training severely. However,
evolved general letter applicable to
most of these cases and submitted it to
Brooks. He was good enough to praise
its conciliatory tact and gracious denial,
and proceed to duplicate the form and
scatter No broadcast.
An hour latter Harold, our clerk, APP
peared at the door.
''Iere is the prison delegation"
Brooks put down his documents and
straightencd up with great concern.
'Let me see, what do they wantl Chug,
there is memorandum on your desk some
where"
searched and found the appointment
slip.
Tues, II A. NJ, Cedar County delegation TO
urge amelioration Of convicts.
Brooks ran his hand through his hair.
"Why do they bother me now Why
can't they torture those fellows in the
/ Legislature, ara after trey get in their
bill como and ask Of my approval7 Why
consume my time for an object so remote,
What shall do with 'em Chugl have
more work here already than / can finish
/ in good season. :"
"Dolu exclaimed, rising energetically
and feeling something Of the old scorn
for him. "why, man, let 'em in. Say:
yellow citizens, am proud to meet you
clad 10 see the cause Of our criminals en-
/ listing the sympathy Of such advocates,
and anything can do to further the good
work. be assured shall rejoice TO do.
AT the same time all government moves
by routine, and ! must commend you TO
the usual procedures. Secure Legislative
action affecting the ends you aim at, and
as / feel sure the object will be justifable,
| ! shall take pleasure in signing your bill.